Young-age prostate cancer.

Although prostate cancer is a disease of the elderly, its diagnosis is not uncommonly made in men younger than 55 years. Both ethnic, familial and genetic factors play a role in the early onset of prostate cancer, but the biology, particularly of low-grade prostate cancers detected at young age is not well understood. Autopsy studies have shown a high prevalence of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers in men under 55 years, but mortality of prostate cancer at this young age is almost negligible. Recently, a number of susceptibility genes such as BRCA2 and HOXB13 were reported, each with their own specific biological and histopathology features. In this review, we provide an update on the most recent findings in young-age prostate cancer. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.